Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- AfC Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 384-JH-EMF20282-B8a
- Employer
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Surrey Foundation Trust
- Town
- Guildford
- Salary
- £59,798 - £67,020 (per annum) includes high cost area supplements (HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Lead Pharmacist - Rheumatology
AfC Band 8a
Job overview
We're looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking pharmacist to lead and shape our Rheumatology pharmacy service at Royal Surrey County Hospital. This is a rare chance to take on a high-profile clinical leadership role at the heart of a well-established and supportive Multidisciplinary Team.
Whether you're an experienced specialist pharmacist ready to step into a senior lead role, or a motivated clinician with a strong rheumatology background looking to develop further, we would love to hear from you.
Overview of what we are looking for:
Essential:
• MPharm or equivalent; GPhC registered
• Post-registration Clinical Diploma or equivalent
• Independent Prescribing qualification
• Broad post-registration clinical pharmacy experience, ideally in an acute setting
• Demonstrable knowledge of DMARDs and biologics in rheumatology
• Experience of developing medicines policies, leading teams, and working across multidisciplinary settings
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills able to convey complex clinical information clearly to a range of audiences
Desirable:
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPharmS)
• Active involvement in national pharmacist networks or specialist groups
• Experience of audit, research, or project management at Trust or national level
Main duties of the job
You will work directly alongside Consultant Rheumatologists and specialist nurses, holding your own clinic caseload as an independent prescriber taking responsibility for the prescribing of DMARDs, biologics, and specialist medicines for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other rheumatologically conditions.
What you will be doing:
• Practising as an independent prescriber in outpatient clinics alongside Consultant Rheumatologists, delivering expert pharmaceutical care and contributing to medicines optimisation
• Leading on safe, cost-effective prescribing across the specialty, including monitoring drug usage, expenditure, and biosimilar switching
• Developing and implementing prescribing guidelines, policies, and protocols for the department
• Representing pharmacy at Rheumatology MDT and governance meetings, and contributing to regional and national specialty networks
• Acting as a clinical role model supporting, mentoring, and educating junior pharmacists, rotational staff, and other healthcare professionals
• Driving service development and innovation, with the opportunity to participate in research and audit
Working for our organisation
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The successful post holder will work directly with our Rheumatology Consultants and Nurse Specialists and will be an integral part of our Rheumatology Multidisciplinary Team. The role involves participating in outpatient clinics and having an active role as an independent prescriber; conducting patient assessments and taking responsibility for the prescribing of DMARDs, biologics and specialist medicines.
This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop advanced clinical skills and to directly deliver enhanced-level, patient-centred care. Participating in research and teaching are other key aspects of the role. The post will also support clinical governance processes, such as the development of guidelines, policies and procedures.
Although this role provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinical pharmacist to develop further as an advanced-level practitioner, we welcome applications from pharmacists with varied rheumatology experience. Hospital experience is desirable but not essential, as role development support will be provided.
See the full job description for a full overview of the role.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- B.Pharm / BSc (Pharmacy) or MPharm GPhC registered
- Diploma/MSc in clinical pharmacy or other appropriate post graduate qualification or experience
- Demonstrates continued professional development
- Independent prescribing qualification
Desirable criteria
- Related postgraduate qualifications
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPharmS)
- Play an active role in a relevant national network / specialist pharmacist group
- Leadership and management qualifications
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Extensive previous experience (post-registration) of clinical pharmacy, particularly in acute settings
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy/national guidance/CQC/ and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Experience of developing and implementing medicines and service related policies for a specialty
- Some experience of line management, including effective performance management, recruitment and allocation of staff
- Some experience of excellent leadership and management skills
- Experience of training and education of both pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals
- Experience of multidisciplinary and team working at Pharmacy, Trust and regional level
- Understanding of issues affecting the NHS
- Demonstrable knowledge of caring for people who require Disease Modifying Anti- rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics used for Rheumatology conditions
Desirable criteria
- Publication of audit/research/clinical work at national level
- Experience of working actively on national groups
- Experience in project management (including department-wide roles) and evidence of completed outcomes
- Experience in undertaking, supervising and reporting/presenting audit / research work at local (Trust) level
- Effective liaison with relevant Trust level committees / groups or equivalent
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Catrin Watkinson
- Job title
- Deputy Chief Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
If you have any further questions about the post please do not hesitate to get in touch and contact Rachael Kamiri-Ngugi Principal Pharmacist Hepatology and Surrey Hepatitis C ODN via email: [email protected]
This post is offered at Band 8a under the NHS Agenda for Change framework, with access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme. We offer flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance, alongside a comprehensive package of professional development opportunities including funded study leave, in-house training, leadership development, and research and audit support.
You will benefit from close supervision and peer support from senior pharmacists, access to regional and national pharmacy networks, and the opportunity to develop and lead new pharmacy services making this a genuinely career-defining role for the right candidate.
Our staff wellbeing programme reflects our genuine commitment to looking after our people.
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Royal Surrey Foundation Trust
- Telephone
- 01483 571122 Ext 2478
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